Harris, Nets finish with flourish, down Knicks

Mar 9, 2009 - 2:11 AM
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Devin Harris had 35
points and 10 assists as the New Jersey Nets secured a critical
win in the race for the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot,
106-101, over the New York Knicks on Sunday.

Vince Carter collected 25 points and nine rebounds for the Nets,
who trailed by as many as nine points in the second half - and
by one with 2:47 left - but finished the game on a 8-2 run.

"We just had to persevere," Carter said. "We knew people were
going to make some mistakes but we have to make sure we see
things through and play hard because you never know what's going
to happen.

"It's all about the way you think, it's not how you start a
game, it's how you finish it."

New Jersey (28-35) is one game behind the idle Chicago Bulls
(29-34) for the eighth seed in the East. The Knicks (25-37) are
3 1/2 games back.

Danilo Gallinari's three gave New York a one-point lead, 99-98,
before Brook Lopez's hook shot put the Nets ahead for good with
1:54 left.

Harris then provided perhaps the game's most important play with
1:15 remaining, when he converted a wide-open transition layup
after swiping the ball from Larry Hughes, who thought he was
fouled and gave up on the play.

The bucket made it a one-possession game with the Nets in the
lead, 102-99, and set up a miserable finish for the Knicks, who
misfired on two potential game-tying threes in the final 25
seconds.

"I thought we made some big defensive plays when we needed to,"
Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "Obviously, we had some big
steals that led to easy baskets. I think, obviously, a lot of
credit is going to Devin and Vince for obvious reasons."

After David Lee stole Carter's pass, Wilson Chandler missed an
uncontested three from the left corner. Lee tapped the rebound
out to Hughes, whose shot from the arc was flat and short with
16 ticks left.

New York fouled twice to put itself in the penalty, allowing
Harris to hit two free throws to forge New Jersey's largest lead
of the game, 104-99, with 15 seconds remaining.

Lee had 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Knicks, who also lost
to the Charlotte Bobcats - another Eastern playoff contender -
on Saturday night.

"Same thing as (Saturday's) game, we had chances to win both
games," Lee said. "It's frustrating because these are two very
important games.

"The majority of teams in the East are separated by a few games.
And those games are decided by five points in either direction.
It's a very slim margin, and we have to try and be on the right
end of those."